Electrotherapeutical apparatus



s. PoNGo ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS April 3, 192s.

6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 26. 1927 S. PONGO ELECTROTHERAPEU'IICALAPPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26. 1927 ,k

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s. PoNGo ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS Filed July 2e. 1927 esheets-sheet' vs/Enron April 3, 192s..

s. PONGO ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS Filed Julbr 26. 19,27

6' Sheets-Sheet 4 s. PONGO ELEcTnTHERAPEuT-ICAL APPARATUS April 3, 1928.

' Filed July 2e. 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 nti. 1

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s. PONGO ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL APPARATUS Filed July 26. 1927 6Sheets-Sheet 6 OOm.

A TTORNEY- Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

SIGMUND PONGO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

i ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL PPARATUS.

Application led July 26,

The pr'esent invention relates to improvements in electro-therapeuticalapparatuses, and more particularly to devices of this type which arecommonly called electric bat 1- 5 cabinets.

In these devices electric light and heat are employed as agencies forthe treatment of the human body for the relief of ailments to which itis subjected. In one type of these apparatuses a table or couch is used,on which is mounted a casing or shell of a length to receive the pronebody of-the patient. In the casing light and heat effects are produced.The casing is supported upon 5 tracks, mounted on the table, and isadapted to be removed from the said table in order to permit the patientto be removed therefrom. Various difficulties have been experiencedheretofore in the handling of the casing, the latter being rather heavy.

The inain object of the present invention is to provide anelectro-therapeutical apparatus, wherein a simple means is providedwhich balances the Weight of the casing, 5 whereby the latter may behandled with ease.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. therapeuticalapparatus'which embodies means for stretching` or elongating the body ofthe patient for correcting certain spinal ailments, for modifyingor'correcting certain defects of the joints of the human body, forimparting certain stimulating effect thereto andv for relievingpathological conditions due to abnormal or natural compression of thecartilages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and veflicientmechanism for actuating the stretching device of the apparalus and to soarrange the said means that it is adapted to be operated by the patient.

lVith these and other objects in view, which will more fully appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the saine consists inthe combination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafterdescribed, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes may he madein the size and proportion of the several parts and details of`construction within the scope of the appended claims,

1927. serialv No. 208,555.'

without departing from the spirit or sacri- Figure 1 is a side elevationof an electrotherapeutical apparatus constructed 1n accorda-nce with thepresent invention; Fig. 2 is a4 transverse section taken through theshell or casing of the device, on a larger scale; Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on .line 3-3 of Fig. 2, on a still larger scale; Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of the end portion of the device shown in Fig. 1, thecasing'being partly removed from the table portion ofthe device; Fig. 5is a view similar to the one shown in Fig. 4, the casingy bein whollyremoved from the table portion o the device; Fig. 6 is a top plan viewof the apparatus, the casing and other elements being removed in orderto more clearly show the interior construction; Fig. 7 is a sectiontaken 0n line 7-7 of Fig. 1, the easing being removed; Fig. 8 is an endview of the table portion of the apparatus, showing the balancing meansof the casing; Fig. 9 is a section taken on line A9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10is a side elevation, on a largerscale, of the connecting means betweenthe table and the casing of the apparatus; and Fig. 11 is a sectiontaken on line 11-11 of Fig. 6, on a larger scale.

vThe apparatus comprises a table 12, including a top 13 mounted uponlegs 14 and providing a support upon which a patient may lie. On thetable top rests, between longitudinal vmarginal guide rails 13', acushion 15, covering substantially the entire area of the table top. Thetop is provided with a central longitudinal slot 16, in which is mounteda channel shaped reflector 17, the latter extending into a longitudinalslot 18 in the cushion 15. The slots 16 and 18pare in alignment, asclearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. Within the reflector aredisposed electric lamps 19, inserted into an electric circuit, providedwithv an electric resistance 20, thel latter being adapted to be variedb turning a knob 21. The resistance and kno are disposed below the toportion of the table. The slot 18 in the cu ion is, prefer- 1 of thedrawings.

l .l ably, covered by a coarse-meshed fabric 22, to revent contactbetween the body of the patient and the reflector and lamps abovereferred to.

Onto the guide rails 13 is adapted to be placed a casing or shell 23,having an open bottom 24, fitted over the said guide rails. This casingis somewhat shorter than the table, it being constructed on a nearlyellip tical plan in transverse cross-section, and provided at its-outerend with a head l25, while to its inner end is fitted a curtain 26,provided with a sliiired opening-26, so'that it may be drawn about theneck of the patient, the patients head resting upon a pillow 27,disposed outside the casing 23. The said casing may be constructed inany suitable manner. In the present case it comprises longitudinalfranie members 28, cov- .ered by a fiber board or like material 29,

to which is applied a cloth or similar covering 30. To the inner facesof the longitudina frame members 28 is' flx'ed an asbestos lining 31,and the latter is covered with a metallic refiector 32.. They head 25 isalso provided with a metallic reflecting surface, not shown.

In the interior of the casing or shell is mounted a plurality ofelectric lamps 33,

inserted into an electric circuit 34. In 'the last-mentioned electriccircuit is inserted a variable resistance 35, adapted to be regulatedbymanipulating a knob 36. The resistance 35 and knob 36 are alsodisposed below the table top, as clearly shown in Fig. One or morewindows 37 may be provided in the casinv' 23, so that the attendant mayview therbody of Vthe patient as the treatment progresses;

Covered openings 38, preferably in the top of the casing 23, permit ofthe insertion of a thermometer to ascertain the heat in the interior ofthe cabinet during the treatment.

vOn the head 25 of the casing 23 are mounted casters 39, on which thesaid casing is adapted to stand when the latter isremoved, in a mannerhereinafter to be described, from the table top.` The casing may thenbeeasily moved from place to place,

when not required in the treatment of a patient. At the foot portion ofthe table top are mounted upon thelatter two rollers 40, one adjacenteach guideway. AThe casing moves on these rollers and may be slidlongitudinally onthe table top in order to remove the same from saidtop. With these two rollers are .adapted to o o-operate two bearingmembers 41 adjacent the bottom ofl'the casing 23, the said rollers beingin the path of said bearing members when the casing is slidlongitudinally on the table toward' the foot portion of the top thereof.Each 'of these bearing 'members is provided with a concaved portion 42,havin a radius corirespondingl to thatv of la ro ler 40 and ex-Lec-1,992

tending through an arc of not more than end of a link 48, the other endof which is pivotally connected at 49 with Aone end of a link 50. Theother end of the last-men-` tioned link is pivoted at 51 to the casing23. A. .latch 52 is adapted to slide over the joint between the links 48and 50' and prevents breaking of the joint between the said two links.In order to remove the casing 23 from the table, the'form'er is slidtoward the foot vvportion ofthe table top until the bearings 41 engagethe rollers 40. The casing is then swung on the said bearings until therollers 39 rest on the floor, that is to say into the position shown inFig. 5 of the drawings. The joint between the links 48 and 50 of thebearings isy then broken, the elements being then in the positions shownin full lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings and in dotted lines in Fig. 10of the drawings, whereby the bearings may be ldisengaged from therollers 40 in moving the casing away from the table of the apparatus.

The balancing means above referred to comprises two bars 53 (Figs. 8 and9), connected at their upper ends by a cross bar 54, the latter beingrotatably mounted in bearings 55, which are disposed a little distancebelow the table top and adjacent the foot portion of the latter. Thebars 53 project beyond those legs which are disposed adjacent the footportion of the table top and are provided at their lower free 'ends eachwith a roller 56. Around the bar 54 is lwound a heavy spring coil 57, soconstructed and arranged that it has a tendency to swing the free endsof the bars 53 upwards from the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 9 of thedraw-l ings into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Adjacenttheir free ends, the bars 53 are connected by a cross bar 58, on

which the rollers 56 are mounted, as clearly .59 engages the'Cross-bar58 and projects up lll to the table top. The bar 59 carries below thetable top a bolt 64. extending through a slot 65 in an arm 66, which isrigidly secured to a cam 67. This cam is fixed to `a spindle 68,oscillatably mounted in bearings 69 on the table and having fixed to it,outside of the table, a handle 70.

When the casing is to be mounted upon the table portion of the device,the bars 53 are first brought into the positions shown in Figs. and 9 ofthe drawings. The casing is then moved into the position shown in Fig. 5of the drawings, in which the fixed sections' 43 of the bearing membersengage the rollers 40 and the head portion 25 of the casing abutsagainst the rollers I5G on the bars 53. The pivoted sections- 44 ofthebearing members are then swung into engagement with the rollers 40 andthe latches 52 brought into lockingr positions to prevent breaking ofthe joints between the links associated with the bearings. The handle isthen given one-half of a turn, from the position shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, whereby thelatch bars 59 are dis engaged from the cross bar 58. The spring 57 isthus free to act, lifting the easing 23 into the position shown in Fig.4 of the drawings, the spring being strong enough to balance the weightof the casing. The operator then takes hold of the casing by graspin thehandles 71 thereon (Figl 1), and shi ts the casing on the rollers 4()until the bottom of the said casing rests onthe guide rails 14, movingthen the casing longitudinally on the table int/o the position shown inFig. 1 of the drawings. It is obvious that before the casing is swungfrom the position shown in Fig. 4 0f the drawings onto the guide rails,the patient is placed onto the table top, so that the patient will be-disposed within the casing when the latter position shown in Fig. 1.

is shifted into the of the drawings.

On the table of the apparatus is furthermore mounted a device forlstretching or elongatingthe body of the patient. This device includeshorizontally disposed guide rails 72 and 73, which are disposedlongitudinally belowrthe table top. On the guide rails 72 is slidablymounted a head carriage 74, and on the guide rails 73' is slidablymounted a foot carriage 75. To the carriage 74 is fixed a nut 76, and tothe carriage 7 5 a nut 77. With the threads of the nut 76 meshes ascrew-threaded spindle 78, and with ,those of the nut 77 a similarspindle 79.

One of the spindles is in the form of a right-screw and the other one inthe form of a left-screw. ,To the innercnd of the screw spindle 78 iskeyed a bevel pinion 80, in mesh with a bevel gear 81. the latter beingkeyed to a transverse shaft 82, which is rotatably mounted in bearings83. Similarly is keyed to the inner end of the spindle 79 a bevel pinion84, in mesh with a.

bevel gear 85, the latter being keyed to a transverse shaft 86, `whichis rotatably mounted in bearings 87. With each of the shafts 82 and 86is associated a ratchet mechanism 88. These mechanisms are within thereach of the patient, so that by actuating the same the head and footcarriages are caused to slide on the table in directions depending uponthe movement of the ratchet mechanisnis. These ratchet mechanisms are,of course, reversiblel so that the movements of the carriages may bereversed according to the requirements. Inasmuch as these ratchetmechanisms do not forni part of the present invention, it is not deemednecessary to describe the same in detail.

'lo-the head carriage 74 are fixed'tw-o longitudinally extending rods89, which ext-end beyond the head port-ion of the table top and arethere connected by a bail-shaped member 90. To this bail-shaped memberare fixed straps 91, for engagement with the head of the patient. To thefoot carriage are fixed straps 92, running over a bracket 93 and havingsecured to their free ends loops 94, through 4which the ankles of thepatient. are adapted to be extended. Braces 95, provided with hooks 96,.are adapted to be anchoredin a row of sockets 97 on 'each side of thetable top, said hooks being adapted to engage under the arm pits of thepatient.

The operation of the device is as follows: If the patient is to besubjected to heat and light treatment only, the casing or shell 23 isfirst brought into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, andthepatient placed upon his back upon the table with his spine directlyover the slot 18 in the cushion 15. .'lhe'casing 23 is then shifted inthe manner above described int-o the position shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, and the patients head extended through the curtain 26. Theelectric current is then turned on, its intensity being adjusted, asrequired, by means of the variable resistances 20 and 35. Aftersufiicient exposure to the heat and light within the cabinet, the lampsare ex` tinguished, and the-casing 23 shifted back into the positionshown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, to prepare the patient for furthertreatment. If the stretching means of .the apparatus is to be made useof, the casing 23 is left in the position shown in Fig. 4 or it may beremoved from the apparatus, for instance, into the position shown inFig. 5 of the drawings. The patients head and feet are then secured tothe respective carriages and the braces applied to the arm pits of thepatient. The electric current is then turned on and ma beregulated bymeans of the lvariable reslstances so that the spine of the patient willreceive light and heat from the lamps 19 and the `body of the patientgenerally will receive light and heat from the lamps 33, the refiectingsurfaces 32 onto the patient. The patient thereupon operates theratchets 88, whereby a pulling stress is applied to the patient,stretching or elongating the body for correcting certain ailments. Ifthe legs only are to be stretched the head straps are ,not applied. Insuchl case the arm braces 95 formfanchoring means for the patients body.f i l It is to be noted that the casing may be placed upon a bed orcouch, on which the patient rests, and light and heat treatment given tothe patient. This is desirable in ase the patient cannot be removed fromthe What I claim is 1, An electro-therapeutical apparatus, comprising atable adapted to receive a prone body, guide rails adjacent thelongitudinal edges of the top of said table, a casing slidable on 4saidguide. rails having an open bottom, said casing being approximate- Ylyof a length correspondingv to that of the table top and the latterclosing the bottom.

portion of said casing when said casing is mounted upon said table,electric lights within said casing, two rollers on the table topadjacent the foot portion of the latter, bearing members on said casingintermediate its ends, said bearing members being adapted to be broughtinto engagement with said rollers, whereby said table top is supportedwhen it is swung on said bearing' members around said rollers, and meansadapted to balance the weight of said casing and Vsupport it in tiltedpostion on said rollers.

2. An electro-therapeutical apparatus ac- `cording to claim 1,comprising casters on said casing, said casing being adapted to rest onsaid casters with said bearings in en'- gagement with said rollers, andmeans adapted for engagement with said balancing means for rendering thelatter inoperative, said casing when-resting on said casters with itsbearings in engagement with said rollers abutting against said balancingmeans 1n inoperative (position, saidl casing being swung aroun meanswhen the latter is rendered operative.

3. An electro-therapeutical apparatus com- Erising a t-able adapted toreceive a rone ody, guide rails adjacent the topo said table, a vcasingslidable on said guide rails having an openbottom, said casing beingapproximately of. a length \corresponding to that of the table top andthe latter closing the bottom portion of said casin when s'aid casing ismounted upon said ta le, electric light-swithin said casing, two'rollers on the4 table top adjacent the foot portion of the latter,bearing members on said casing intermediate its ends, said bearingmembers being Vadapted to be brought into engagement -with said rollers,casters on said casing, said casing'being adapted to be swung on saidsaid rollers by said balancing bearing members around said rollers andto rest on said casters with said bearings in engagement with saidrollers, each of said bearing members comprising a stationary member anda movable member, said movable member being adapted to be disengagedfrom the respective roller, whereby said casing is adapted to be removedfrom said table. v n 4 4. An aelectro-therapeutical apparatus accordingto claim 3, said table top being provided with a longitudinal slot, atrough shaped reflector in said slot, and electric lights within saidreflector, the lights within said reflector and within said casing beingadapted to be rendered operative when said when said easing rests uponits casters with its bearings in engagement with saidrollers.

5. An electro-therapeutical apparatus accordingto claim 3, comprising asliding head carriage. and a sliding foot carriage upon `casing restsupon said tab-le top and also said table, to which parts of the body ofv the patient resting uponsaid table are adapted to be secured, meansfor independently moving said head and foot carriages toward and awayfrom one another, and' reflecting .means in said casin for directing theheat and light emanatinggirom the lamps therein onto the patientwhensaid casing is swung around its bearings on saidy rollers-- and issupported by the latter. 4

6. An electro-therapeuticalapparatus comprising a table adapted toreceive a rone body, guide rails adjacent the' top o said table, acasing slidable on said guide rails having an' open bottom, said casingbeing approximately of a llength corresponding to with said rollers,casters on said casing, said lOl ` 1l ing adapted to be brought intoengagement casing being adapted tobe swungon said i bearing` membersaround said rollers and ,to rest on said casters with said bearingmembers in engagement with said rollers, each of said bearing memberscomprising a stationary member and a movable member, said movable memberbeing adapted to bedisengaged from the respective roller, whereby saidcasing isl adapted to be removed from said table, a sliding headcarriage 4and 'a sliding foot carriage upon said table, to i which partsofthe body o the patient resting upon said table are adapted to besecured,

`means for independently moving said head and kfoot carria es toward andaway from from the lamps therein onto the patient when one another, reecting means in said casingl for directing the heat and. light emanatingmogano said casi-ng is swung around itsbearings on said rollers and issupportedbythe latter; said table top 'bein provided withka longitudinalslot, a troug shaped reflector in said slot, and lectric lights withinsaid reflector;V Y the lights .Withinsaid reflector and Within saidcasing being adapted to be rendered operative when said casing restsupon said table top and also willen said Acasing rasts upon itscasterslwith itsbearings in` engage- Il n ment with said rollers.

Signed at New York in' 1Ehe county of New York, and State of New York,this 27 th day ofY May, A. D. 1927.

. SIGMUND PoNGo.

